Adjustable bunch roller for cigar machines



Sept. 12, 1933. J. F. HALSTEAD ADJUSTABLE BUNCH ROLLER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed June 23, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1' 9 I r N Q I l' I l m TOR I I, ATTORNE .1 N 9 m N mf m MN m M g HM. N! \w w H u u h Qa Sept. 12, 1933. J. F. HALSTEAD ADJUSTABLE BUNCH ROLLER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed June 23, 1932 Z She-etS-Sheet 2 FIG.7

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INVENTOI ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES ADJUSTABLE BUNCH ROLLER FOR CIGAR. MACHINES Application June 23, 1932. Serial No. 618,991 '7 Claims. (01. 131-42) This invention relates to an improvement in bunch rollers for cigar machines of well known construction, its main object being to provide an adjustable rolling pin mounting so that the same bunch rolling unit may be used with any shape of rolling table for rolling straight as well as tapered bunches. With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinaiter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In cigar machines,' a difierent rolling table must be employed for each shape of bunch to be rolled, a substantially straight table for cylindrical bunches and laterally curvedv tables for tapered bunches, the radius of this lateral curvature in each case corresponding to the taper required. Ordinarily, therefore, a different rolling pin unit must be used for each cigar shape to be produced by the machine.

In order to avoid this complexity and thus to produce a machine that can be used for a great variety of cigar shapes by simply adjusting or, in extreme cases, replacing the rolling table, the rolling pin in the present invention is carried by a swingable vertical arm so mounted on a vertically turnable pivot shaft that it can readily be adjusted to any swing required. While with this circularly swinging rolling pin a cylindrical rolling table is preferable, the improved bunch roller, with but a slight modification of the rolling pin mounting and by the addition of suitable guides for the rolling pin, may also be used for flat rolling tables such as required in connection with a binder cutter. In order to permit the same rolling table to be used for a number of cigar shapes within certain limits, so that all ordinary shapes can be rolled by employing but two or three separate table units, the delivery end of the rolling table in the present invention is formed by two reversible tapered strips, by the four different combinations of which all rolling pin swings within their range can be accommodated.

In the accompanying drawings which form a v part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the rolling pin unit;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3. is a front elevation showing a modification of the rolling pin mounting for use on a flat rolling table, Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;"

improved Fig. 5 is a plan View of a rolling table provided with means for adjusting its delivery end to different rolling pin swings; V v

Fig. 6 is a sideelevation of the adjustable rolling table taken on line 6-6 of Fig.5;

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the rolling table shown in Fig. 5 with the outer wedge reversed; I

Fig. 8 is a similar plan view with the inner wedge reversed; and v Fig. 9 is a plan view of the both Wedges reversed.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided a cigar bunch rolling table, an arm having a yoke on one end, a cigar bunch rolling pin mounted in said yoke, a station-aryframe member underlying'thetable, a bracket rotatably adjustable about its own axis on the frame mem- I her, a pivot shaft carriedby the bracket, a plate rotatably mounted on the pivot shaft and provided with an outstanding pivotpin, the other end of the arm being mounted on the pivot pin and adjustably secured to the plate, whereby the arm may be adjusted to permit the rolling pin to operate on a right or left, hand cigar bunch rolling table, and automatic means'for swinging the arm and plate about the pivot shaft to traverse the rolling pin over the table. In the best form of construction. contemplated-said means may include a cam lever iulcrumed on the frame member and connected to the arm by a universal joint, and a cam for actuating the lever. The rolling pin in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be arranged in the yoke to yield inwardlyso it may be caused to move in a horizontal path, when thepivot shaft is set in a horizontal position, by a device engaging the ends of the rolling pin. as it traverses the table. In the best forms of construction contemplated, also, the delivery end of the table is provided with a set of tapered wedges detachably secured thereto, 5 whereby the Wedges may be rearranged to accommodate the different swings of the arm as adjusted. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within the scope of the claims for the particular device selected toillustrate the invention is but one of many adjustable table with 65 possible concrete embodiments'of the same. The

invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the rolling pin 5,. by means of square bushings 6, is mounted in the forked ends or yoke of a vertical arm "I, the bushings 6 being held by springs 8 against adjusting screws 9v in the caps 10 of the said fork ends. 110 The arm 'Iisturnable on a circular projection or pivot pin 11 of a plate 12 to which it is fastened by screws 13 passing through arcuate slots 14 in its hub. The plate 12 is swingable on a horizontal pivot shaft 15 supported in a vertically turnable bracket 16 rotatably adjustable about its own axis and attached, by means of screws 17 in arcuate slots 18 thereof, to the frame member 19 of the cigar machine which underlies the cigar bunch rolling table hereinafter described. The frame member 19 underlies the rolling table and slots 14 and 18 are made symmetrical with respect to the center line of the arm '7 in order that the improved device may be adjusted for use on a right hand as well as'on a left hand cigar bunch rolling table, according to whether the rolled bunch is to be served with a wrapperv from a right or from a left hand leaf-half, as,

otherwise the winding of the wrapper would tend to unroll the binder and thus produce a loose unsatisfactory cigar. This adjustment is obtained, as hereinafter described, by turning the pivot shaft 15 in a counter clockwise or clockwise direction from its horizontal position. The arm '7 is actuated, through an adjustable connecting rod 20, connected thereto by a universal joint, by a lever 21 fulcrumed on a stud 22 supported by frame member 19, the lever 21 having an arm 23 carrying a cam roller 24 engaging with a cam track in a cam 25 mounted on a shaft 26 connected with the drive of the cigar bunch machine.

The rolling pin 5 may operate in conjunction with a cylindrical rolling table 27 which is attached to the main frame 28 of the machine and to which one end of the rolling apron 29 is affixed by means of a cross strap 30. InFig. l, the full lines show a straight cylindrical table, corresponding to the full line position of pivot shaft 15, for rolling cylindrical bunches, and the dotted lines show a laterally curved table 27 corresponding to the dotted position of the pivot shaft, for rolling tapered bunches. Depending upon whether the laterally curved table is a right or left hand table, the pivot shaft is swung in a counter-clockwise or clockwise direction to adjust the rolling pin.

In the operation of the machine, a filler charge F sufficient for one bunch is inserted into a pocket 31 formed in the rolling apron 29 by the descent of the charge-carrying member, not shown, while therolling pin 5 is in its starting position shown in Fig. 2. Upon the ascent of the charge-inserting member, the cam 25 then swings the arm 7 and causes the pin 5 to sweep over the table 27, thereby closingthe pocket 31 over the charge F and rolling the same into a binder leaf L, as shown in dotted lines at F, the binder L having been deposited on the apron 29 on which it is held by suction, during the backstroke of arm 7 after delivery of the preceding bunch. At the forward end of table 27, the bunch so rolled isreceived either by a stationary pocket from which it is removed by hand, or by a suitably movable member which transfers it automatically to the bunch wrapping mechanism of the cigar machine.

When the improved adjustable rolling unit is to be used in connection with a flat rolling table, the rolling pin must, of course, have a straight horizontal instead of a circular movement. This is accomplished by removing the adjusting screws 9 in the caps 10 of the fork bearings and intro.- ducing a guide bar 32, Figs. 3 and 4, on top of each end of the rolling pin 5. The springs '8 in the fork arms '7 then hold the pin. 5 against the stationary guide bars 32 which are held by j ing apron 29 which is made of sufficient extra brackets 33 and 34 attached to the flat table 35 which may be straight as shown in Fig. 3 or curved to either side.

The operation of the improved adjustable bunch roller is as follows: When the rolling pin 5 is set'for a straight cylindrical table, as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 for rolling straight bunches, the axis XX of the pivot shaft 15 is horizontal and the arm 7, in turning around this horizontal axis, causes the rolling pin 5 to describe a cylindrical path along the arc of a circle PQ in Fig. 2, this circle having its center in the pivot point of the shaft 15 and being concentric with the longitudinal curvature of table 27. When used with a laterally curved table 27, for rolling tapered bunches, the pin is placed at the starting end of the rolling table, parallel with its edge,

on the line OP' in Fig. 2, the fastening screws 13 and 17 being loosened and the pivot shaft 15 being swung vertically around its pivot point 0 to the proper angle, as shown in dotted lines X" in Fig. 1, the arm '7 being swung back to a vertical position. Inthis position of shaft 15, the rolling pin 5, when moved forward by the cam 25 after retightening the screw 13 and 17, will now turn 1 about the axis OP in Fig. 1, the end points A and B of the rolling pin describing circles with the radii AC and BD, respectively. These circles are shown in Fig. 2 by the ellipses E and E, the major radiiCE and'DE of which correspond respec- 105 tively to the perpendicularsrAC and BD drawn from the end points A and B of the rolling pin to the axis of revolution OP in Fig. l, the point P, at the intersection of AB and XX', being the position at the pocket end of the rolling table the rolling pin is parallel with the edge of the rolling table, the projection P of point P forms the end of the minor radius of the ellipse E as well as k that of ellipse E. Instead of moving in a cylin- 1 drical path, as in the horizontal position of shaft 15, shown in full lines, the rolling pin in this case moves in a conical path with the apex P, P, the dotted cylinders AB and AB showing the center of revolution. In Fig. 2, since the starting it10 front and side elevations of one of the positions of 120 pin 5 when being operated with the pivot shaft 15 in the angular position shown in dotted lines.

For every change in the angle of shaft 15, that is to say for every change in the swing of the rolling pin, a corresponding change of the rolling a table must be made, since the discharge edge of the table must in each case be in substantial alignment to the rolling center, so that both ends of the rolled bunch reach the edge of the table at'approximately the same time. For "the purpose of making one table do for a number of shapes within a given range, means are provided to adjust the angle of the rolling table edge to different swings of the rolling pin. Referring to Figs. 5 to 9, the end of the rolling table is formed by two tapered strips or wedges 36 and 37 fastened to the main portion 27 of the table by screws 38. The outer wedge strip 3'7 carries the cross strap for the attachment of the rolllength and of such a curvature as to fit all bunches within the range of the table. The wedges 36 and 3'7 are made with different tapers so as to obtain proper gradation in their adjustment, the aim being to change the angle of the rolling table in three equal steps by the four possible combinations of the wedges.

In Fig. 5, both wedges 36 and 3'7 are placed with their wide ends on the concave side of the table, with the result that, with the tapers chosen 1 in the drawings, the discharge edge of the outer wedge 37 is practically parallel with the starting edge of the table, as shown in dotted lines, this arrangement of the wedges thereforebeing suitable for the horizontal position of the pivot shaft 15. In Fig. 7, the outer wedge 37 is reversed, causing its outer edge to form a small angle with the starting edge of the table, as shown in dotted lines. In Fig. 8, the inner'wedge '36 is reversed and, since the latter has a greater taper than the outer wedge 37, the discharge edge of the table now makes with the starting edge the somewhat larger angle shown in dotted lines. Finally in Fig. 9, both wedges are reversed from their position in Fig. 5, so that now both their narrow ends point toward the center of revolution P of the rolling pin, and the discharge edge of the table makes a comparatively large angle with the starting edge, corresponding to the smallest radius of swing usable with the given tapers.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a cigar bunch rolling table having a substantially flat upper face, of an arm having a yoke on one end, a cigar bunch rolling pin, means for yieldingly supporting said r011- ing pin in said yoke in a position above said table, means for oscillating said arm about an axis extending transversely of said table, and a device engaging the ends of the rolling pin to cause it to move in a horizontal path while traversing the bunch rolling table.

2. The combination with a cigar bunchrolling table, of an arm having a yoke on one end, a cigar bunch rolling pin mounted in said yoke, adjustable means for pivotally supporting said arm, mechanism for oscillating said arm, and a plurality of tapered wedges detachably secured to the table and forming the delivery end of said table, whereby the angle of the delivery edge may be varied to the different swings of said'arm as adjusted.

3. In a cigar machine, the combination with a rolling table, of mechanism for rolling a bunch in a curved path along said table from a first edge of the table to a second edge at an angle to said first edge, and means adapted to be engaged with one edge for varying the angularity of said edge with respect to the other to fit initial and final positions of bunches rolled along differently curved paths, said means comprising a plurality of tapered wedges detachably secured to said table with their upper surfaces forming a continuation of the upper surface of the table.

4. The combination with an arm having a yoke on one of its ends, of a cigarbunch rolling pin mounted in said yoke, a stationary frame memher, a bracket, means for securing the bracket on said frame member, said bracket being rotatably adjustable on said means, a plate pivotally mounted on said bracket, the other endrof said arm being pivoted on said plate to permit the arm to be angularly adjusted about its pivot on said plate, devices for securing said arm to the plate in any adjusted position of the arm, whereby the bracket and arm may be adjusted to permit the rolling pin to operate on a right or left hand bunch rolling table, and automatic mechanism for swinging said arm and plate about the pivot of the latter on said bracketto traverse said rolling pin over a bunch rolling table.

5. The combination with an arm having a yoke on one of its ends, of a cigar bunch rolling pin mounted in'said yoke, a stationary frame member, a bracket, means for securing the bracket on said frame member, a plate pivotally mounted on said bracket, the other end of said arm being pivoted on said plate to permit the arm to be angularly adjusted about its pivot on said plate, devices for securing said arm to the plate in any adjusted position'of the arm, whereby the bracket and arm may be adjusted to permit the rolling pin to operate on a right or left hand bunch rolling table, and automatic mechanism for swinging said arm and plate about the. pivot f the latter on said bracket to traverse said rolling pin over a bunch rolling table, said mechanism including a cam lever fulcrumed' on said stationary frame member, a universal joint connecting said lever and arm, and a cam for actuating said lever.

6. The combination with a laterally curved bunch rolling table, of an arm having a yoke on one of its ends, a cigar bunch rolling pin mounted in said yoke, a stationary frame member below said table, a bracket, means for; securing the bracket on said frame member, said bracket being rotatably adjustable on said means, a pivot shaft carried by said bracket and having its axis disposed in a plane passing through the front edge of said table, a plate pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, the other end of said arm being pivoted on said plate to permit the arm to be angularly adjusted about its pivot on said plate, devices for securing said arm to the plate in any adjusted position of the arm,whereby the bracket and arm may be adjusted to align the axis of the rolling pin with the front edge of said table to roll a tapered bunch thereon, and automatic mechanism for swinging said arm and plate about said pivot shaft to traverse said rolling pin over said bunch rolling table. 7. The combination with a straight cylindrically shaped bunch rolling table, of an, arm having a yoke on one of its ends, a cigar bunch rolling pin mounted in said yoke, a bracket, a stationary frame member, means for securing the bracket on said frame member, said bracket being rotatably adjustable on said means, a pivot shaft carried by said bracket, a plate pivotally mounted on said pivot shaft, the other end of said arm being pivoted on said plate to permit the arm to be angularly adjusted about its pivot on said plate, devices for securing said arm to the plate in any adjusted position of the arm, whereby the axes of said rolling pin and pivot shaft may be adjusted to be parallel with the front edge of said table to roll a cylindrical bunch thereon,

and automatic mechanism for swinging said arm,

and plate aboutsaid pivot shaft, the center of curvature of said table being concentric with said pivot shaft when the latter is adjusted into a position parallel to the front edge of said table.

JOHN F. HALSTEAD. 

